Insomnius Dei is a new doom /death metal project coming out of Australia which combines the talents of Mark Kelson (guitars, drums and keyboards) and Terry Vainoras (vocals and bass). Both of these musicians are well known fixtures in the Australian metal scene and this isn't the first time they've worked together as they currently collaborate in another project called The Eternal, which will have a new release out in 2008. Their debut disc under this moniker entitled Illusions of Silence is an absolutely brutal and punishing combination of doom and death metal.
From the opening, crushing chords of the first track "For The Memories Of My Past", the assault is a slow, deliberate one, awash in Kelson's layered guitar work and the dual clean and death vocal style which is presumably shared by both Vainoras and Kelson. With the exception of one track "A Funeral Sky", each of the remaining 6 songs runs in the 9-10 minute range, which on the surface might seem a tad excessive but music this dark and punishing needs time and space to breathe, something Insomnius Dei is more than happy to do. It's not all about power chords and brutal heaviness however, as the duo adds color to their overall sound by frequently changing tempos and inserting slower, quieter passages within each track, offsetting the sonic punishment and giving the songs more of an even balance. Kelson also demonstrates that he's certainly capable of serving up the odd guitar solo as well, when it suits the song. His precise, melodic soloing technique is a bit under utilized here, but when the spirit does move him, he steps up to the plate and really delivers the goods. Clocking in at around 60 minutes, you're going to want to crank this one up and revel in this bands unbridled intensity and lengthy rock jams long into the night. Simply put, Illusions of Silence is as good as it gets in this genre.
Track Listing
1) For The Memories Of My Past
2) Seven Burning Eyes
3) Illusions Of Silence
4) A Funeral Sky
5) Absent
6) Terminal
7) The Aftermath
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